"Recognizing What God Has Said" (Acts 17:30-31)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5/23/2018 9:43 AM

My Worship Time                                                            Focus:  Recognizing What God has Said

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 17:30-31

            Message of the verses:  “30 "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead."”

            Just a note that I will try and look at the last verses from Acts 17 after I comment on verses 30-31. 

            We have been looking at the fact that God does exists, and also looking at the understanding of who He is, and yet this will not lead anyone to a saving knowledge which was what Paul was trying to do with these Greek philosophers as they listen to him talk.  James said the following in his book “James 2:19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.”  James is saying that if people just believe that God does exist then if that is all you believe then you are no better off than the demons who believe the same thing. 

            Once the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world this brought about a change in God’s dealing with humanity.  Before Christ came people were saved by looking forward to the coming of God’s Messiah.  Paul writes “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance,” “that is, He didn’t always intervene with special judgment (thought sin always caused consequences) against the nations who did not know Him.  But ‘God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent.’  Natural revelation is insufficient to save, and merely serves to draw men to God.”  (MacArthur)  We have read in Acts 4:12 “"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."”  This was God’s plan all along, that is to send His Son into the world to pay the price for sin, and this of course is Paul’s main point to these men.

            Paul goes on to say that there is coming a day in which God will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed.  We know that Paul is talking about the Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus said the following in John 5:22-27,

“22 “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. 24  "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. 25  "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 27  and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.”

            In John 5:25 we see that Jesus has the power to raise His children from the dead, and Paul speaks of something similar, that is that God has raised Jesus Christ from the dead and that resurrection of Christ from the dead gives us proof that God was satisfied with what Christ did on the cross.

            People who heard of someone being raised from the dead react in ways that mostly shows that they do not believe that this happened, and yet there is more proof that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, that is written proof in history past than written proof that Julius Caesar lived, and not many people have any problem believing that Julius Caesar lived.

            “32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, "We shall hear you again concerning this." 33 So Paul went out of their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them (Acts 17:32-34).”  This, to me, is a sad commentary, and yet we read that there were some who did believe.  I have to believe that Paul was somewhat disappointed that more people did not believe, and yet if only a few did believe then his unplanned trip to Athens was worth it.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I have told many people about how they can be saved from their sins and have eternal life through Jesus Christ, and many people have not believed me.  I am very disappointed when this happens, and yet I have to keep on telling others when God brings them into my life.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence (1 Peter 3:15).”

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “It had not rained for three years” (1 Kings 18:1-2).

Today’s Bible question:  “What is the leaven of the Pharisees?”

Answer in our next SD.

5/23/2018 10:15 AM